8" Surface May Arrive in June; Windows 8.1 in October
Microsoft may launch its 8-inch Surface tablet in June, followed by Windows 8.1 in October.
DigiTimes provided a double-shot of Windows 8 goodness on Thursday, first reporting that Windows 8.1 is estimated to launch in late October. We already speculated this would be the timeframe when Microsoft's update would hit the masses, but sources "related to ODMs" offered their two cents nonetheless. An October release schedule would seemingly keep the platform on a tight yearly refresh given Windows 8 launched on October 26, 2012.
However, these sources believe that Windows 8.1 won’t be enough to push large numbers of new hardware sales, citing some nonsense about how current users can take advantage of third-party apps like Start8 to modify the interface and features. For current Windows 8 customers, the upgrade will be completely free – how the updated platform will push sales later this year will depend on how it's advertised.
But these sources do point out that Microsoft will need to drop its Windows 8 licensing even lower if the company wants to make a major, positive impact on the consumer market this fall. Microsoft is reportedly providing licensing subsidies for products with display sizes 11.6-inches and below. Thus, ODMs producing slightly larger notebooks are having a hard time competing with those products on a price level.
Launching Windows 8.1 in October seems to fall in line with Microsoft's former release schedule with Windows 8. The company launched a Consumer Preview on February 29, a meatier Release Preview on May 31, and then the full retail version on October 26. Microsoft plans to launch the Release Preview for Windows 8.1 next month during BUILD 2013 along with a rumored 8-inch Surface tablet.
That's where DigiTimes' second report of the day chimes in. Unnamed sources from supply chain makers in Taiwan claim that an 8-inch Surface will arrive in June followed by a 10.x-inch model as early as 3Q13. The 8-inch model will reportedly use a Nvidia SoC – presumably the Tegra 4 – and a touch panel supplied by Samsung. Taiwan-based ODM Pegatron will be responsible for production.
The details surrounding the 10.x-inch tablet are unclear, but it will be slightly smaller than the current 10.6-inch Surface tablets. It will also arrive once Microsoft has flushed out the current stockpile with deep discounts later this year. Microsoft expects initial monthly shipments of the two new devices to reach one million units, sources said.

Well, I'm hoping they've updated it since the one in the acer aspire... and Haswell chips with decent graphics still consume too much power to be in a tablet. in a 10-inch, all I want is the ability to handle a bunch of browser-tabs, word processing, and maybe basic powerpoint stuff.
but I might game a little when I'm bored, and Temash will let me run windows based MMOs
All this as someone who really, really likes his Windows 8 Pro Acer Iconia W700 tablet. I'd like to see these things pick up, but MS ain't making it easy. I'd like to say they are thinking long term, but that's what I thought about the Zune HD.
All this as someone who really, really likes his Windows 8 Pro Acer Iconia W700 tablet. I'd like to see these things pick up, but MS ain't making it easy. I'd like to say they are thinking long term, but that's what I thought about the Zune HD.
I'd strongly recommend getting a tablet like that. Best combination of portability and functionality of any device I've ever used.
What I'd recommend though is checking out some of the non MS alternatives. The Surface is great - I've used one - but it's more or less the same device as the Iconia W700 at a higher cost with fewer bells and whistles. Not sure if it sells in the UK though...
Dry
The W700 required a network driver update when I first got it, but since then it has been running without a hitch. It is a bit on the heavy side though for using it like an e-reader for extended periods - same deal with the Surface. Not terrible, but I notice it compared to my Le Pan II Android tablet. I'm 100% sold on the Windows tablets for general functionality in comparison to Android/Apple, but waiting for an 8 inch tablet would be better for what a lot of people use them for.
The Surface name doesn't count for much in the tablet world over all, but it's the big fish in the Windows tablet world. Much like casual users will say "Hey man, I just got this iPad! It has wireless internet and can play games and music and search the internet!" and have people recognize it like some sort of gold standard, if you're a casual user, the Surface is the closest thing in the Windows tablet world. If you're one of those odd and rare casual users who wants a Windows tablets, people will react to the Surface in a similar manner and have no idea what an Acer or HP tablet or whatever is.
These devices are "cool" and perception sells.
Dry
Dry
A lot of people perceive that the iPad, and Apple products in general, are the most technologically advanced, most functional, best items for them on the market. Do you think that these millions of perceptions are the truth in the case of phones/tablets/MP3 players/computers?
Dry
And to follow up with a more specific example:
the argument I hear the most is that 'Macs handle video better' but from what I've learned is that Adobe Premiere or Sony Vegas works the same on a Mac as it does when I run it on my Windows Vista workstation at home. So unless I've missed some massive functionality in my Adobe Production Suite 5.5 that Mac users get, I've only got about $500 in my used Dell 5400 dual quad core Xeon and it works pretty well.